2 Keys Keyboard — LeetCode 650 Python Solution

The problem

There is only one character 'A' on the screen of a notepad. You can perform one of two operations on this notepad for each step: Copy All: You can copy all the characters present on the screen (a partial copy is not allowed).

Example

Input

n = 3

Output

3

Explanation

Initially, we have one character 'A'.

Python solution

class Solution:
    def minSteps(self, n: int) -> int:
        @cache
        def dfs(n):
            if n == 1:
                return 0
            i, ans = 2, n
            while i * i <= n:
                if n % i == 0:
                    ans = min(ans, dfs(n // i) + i)
                i += 1
            return ans

        return dfs(n)

Complexity

Pattern: Dynamic Programming

Define a state, write the transition, and stop recomputing the same subproblem. LeetCode 650. 2 Keys Keyboard is filed here on both counts: the reference solution below belongs to the algorithm family this hub collects, and LeetCode tags it Dynamic Programming.

The dynamic programming guide has the Python template for the pattern and the 481 LeetCode problems that use it.

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